Inking device



Aug. 20, 1963 E. G. BQROWN INKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 18 1961 We a z m M @Mzn (y 04% ATTOR/V'YS 'tridge is desirable.

3,101,283 INKING DEVICE Eugene G. Brown, 149% Prevest, Detroit, Mich.

- Filed Jan. 18, 1%1, Ser. No. 83,528

1 (Harlin. (Cl. na -26s This invention relates to an inking device of the ink reservoir wick discharge type as used upon a machine provided with a travelling ribbon towhich ink is applied from a roller and which roller receives its ink from the inking device, and constitutes an improvement upon the device disclosed in my prior US. Patent No. 2,732,824.

Heretofore ithas been common practice to provide a ribbon reinking device as shown in said patent compris-.

ing a cylindrical cartridge containing the ink to be supplied to the typewriter ribbon via the roller with the 3,101,283 Patented Aug-.20, 1963 more fully appear from the specification, claim and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view bodying my invention; 7

FIG. 2 is a side view partially in section of device disclosed in FIG. 1;

, FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 the inking of FIG. 2;

cartridge mounted in the machine with its axis extending I vertically and having a wick-carrying tube projecting laterally from the cartridge atv the upper end thereof with a wick disposed in the tube and extending at its inner end down into the cartridge and into the ink therein and g with its outer'end projecting beyond the outer end of V the wick-carrying tube to engage the ribbon inking roller against which the outer end of the wick lightly bears. Certain typewriting machines, such as those in use in automatic printing equipment such as computing machines and the like have limited space for the mounting of the reinking cartridge and it has become desirable to mount the cartridge in such fashion as to avoid interference with other parts or portionsof the typewriting machine, and to accomplish such mounting thecartridge must be mounted with its axis horizontal, or substantially FIG. 4 is-a side view partially in section of a modified form of the inking device; and 1 FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on. the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and showing in addition one form of the mounting device for the cartridge.

The inking device disclosed in this application comprises, as shown in the various figures of the drawing, a cylindrical ink cartridge 10 comprising a hollow body member 12 for containing a supply of ink 14. The exterior of the cartridge is preferably though not indispensably of cylindrical shape of uniform diameter from one end to the other. The interior of the cartridge is provided with a smooth cylindrical wall v16 of uniform diameter from one end to the other of the cartridge. One end of thecartridge is closed by an end wall 18 integral with the cartridge body :12. The opposite end of the cartridge is preferably closed by a hollow cap or the like '20. The joint between the cartridge and the cap may be of a hub-and-spigot type as at 22 so that the interior surface or internal diameter of the cartridge will on the interior of the cartridge wall.

The cartridge is preferably formed of a plastic material of sufiicient rigidity to hold its shape under normal usage.

The cartridge is adapted to be mounted in a typewriting or printing machine by ,any suitable means such, for example, by an adjustable bracket shown in FIG. 5.

If it is unnecessary to adjust the position of the cartridge toward or away from the ribbon inking roller, an adjustable bracket need not be provided. However, as one the axis of the cartridge extends vertically to a horizontal position in which it extends horizontally and at the same time may be 90% full of ink; 90% full being the maximum amount to which the cartridge would be filled whether to be disposed vertically or horizontally as some air space above the upper surface of the ink in :the car- Another object of the vention is the provision of an 7 inking device mountable through the range of positions above mentionedandwhich comprises a generally cylindrical ink cartridge having a wick-carrying tube extend .ingsubstantially tangentially therefrom such that in the horizontal position of the cartridge ink will not flood out fromtthe wick tube and yet airv may enter the car- V roller while withdrawal of the 'wick in a direction away from the roller will serve to decrease the band width of ink applied to the roller. v

Other objects, advantages, and meritorious features will of the features of the inking device disclosed herein comprises a novel roller engaging wick end allowing for variation of the band width'of ink applied to the roller, andin turn requires an adjustmentof the cartridge toward and away from the roller, an adjustable cartridge supporting, bracket is shown. The adjustable bracket may be an integral part of the typewriting machine or may be furnished as an accessory supplied withthe cartridge. In any event it comprises a member 24 of rigid material to which,spaced from the end 26 thereof, is connected the lower end of a spring arm 28 which may be formed of spring metal, plastic or any other suitable grip the cartridge and for this purpose may be provided with a pair of spring fingers 30 and 32 shaped to conform to the cylindrical surface of the cartridge and grippingly embrace the same. The cartridge may be removed from between the fingers by drawing the cartridge forcibly from therebetween. 'It may be replaced between the fingers by springing them outwards slightly and snapping the cartridge therebetween. Any other suitable means for securing the cartridge to the end of arm 28 may be provided. The position of arm .28 relative to the member 24 and to a ribbon inking roller 34 is determined by a threaded screw-like member 36 threadedly extended through member 24 and abutting arm 28.

Ink within the cartridge is delivered by a wick 38 to the ribbon inking roller 34, which is rotatably mounted in the machine in a position such that the ribbon R to be inked abuts a surface of the roller during travel of the ribbon, as for example, in the direction of the arrow of an inking device can ofthe-wick extends beyondthe outer endof the tube while the inner end of the wick is disposed within the cartridge. The inner end portion of the wick may extend along or lie flush with a wall of the cartridge as shown in FIGS; 2 and 4 to pick up the last of any ink in the cartridge ifthe'cartridge is mounted horizontally as shown in the drawings. Theinner end of the wick preferably extends to the end wall 18- ofthe cartridge to pick up the last of the ink'if the cartridge is mounted vertically. Preferably the wick is of non-cylindrical, such as square, cross-sectional shape as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. It is sized to snugly fit within the wick tube 40 to maintain its position thereinleaving, however, clearance between the flat sides of the wick and the cylindrical: internal surface of the tube to permit air to enter the cartridge to displace ink withdrawn therefrom through the-wick. The outer end of the wick may be tapered alongone side,-or wedge-shaped, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, and for this purpose the end of the wick may be-formed with a diagonal upper surface 46 which tapers downwardly toward the outer'end of the wick. Either of the outer end surface portions at the sides of the wick adjacent tapering surface 46, and indicated at 47 and 49, is adapted to wipe tangentially the inking roller. As

a result of this taper or 'wedge' shapeya'nd as shown in FIG. 1, the bandwidth of ink 48 deposited on the inking roller 34 will depend upon the amount of side surface contact of the outer end surface portion 47 or 49 of the be disposed in a horizontal position, i.e'., its axis may be wick with the surface of roller 34. Movement of the 1 wick tangentiallyof the roller will vary the band width of ink -48. The greater the area of surfaceportion 47 or 49 that'contacts the surface of the roller the greater the band width of ink applied, and vice versa. Adjustment of the band width by movement of the wick tangentially of the, roller rather than diametrically as with the aforesaid patent allows a more delicate or accurate adjustment of the band width. In this fashion the amount of ink applied to the ribbon may be varied. Should it be desired to mountthe cartridge with its axis vertical, the wick will be rotated in the tube 90 degrees about its axis to present a side surface 47' or 49 to the roller.

It will be noted that the wicktube both in the FIG. 1 as well as the FIG. 5 embodiment is connected to the cartridge on a chord of the cylindrical shape of the cartridge, such chord being the upper end of "a diameter of the cartridge in FIGS. 4 and 5, and extends away from the ink cartridge substantially tangent to the cylindrical shape of the cartridge with the outer end of the tube disposed above the level of ink in the cartridge. hnthe FIGS. 1-3 embodiment the tube is rectilinear and the upper surface is tangential to the cartridge and the cartridge is rotated about its axis, when mounted in the printing machine, so that the outerend of the tube iselevated above the level ofink in the cartridge. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 the tube is connected to the cartridge to open diametrically into the cartridge and adjacent th cylindrical outer surface of the cartridge is bent through substantially a right angle as at 50 to project away from thercartridge substantially tangent to the outer surface. In the FIGS. 4-5 embodiment the tube is, therefore, generally L-shaped. In "FIG. 5 the cartridge is shown mounted in the machine so that the tube is disposed along the upper side of the cartridge with anai'r space 52 between the inner end of. the tube and the ink 14.

In the FIGSI 4 and 5 embodiment the" cartridge may disposed horizontally, and be substantially filled with ink. By substantially filled is meant that it can be filled to within 90% of its total interior volumetric capacity with 10% of the total space within the cartridge for occupancy by air. It is desirable to provide some air space within the cartridge Whether it is vertically or horizontally mounted to allow for expansion of the ink under heat or some other condition to which it may be subjected,,wh ich space may extend along the upper side thereof, as for example,

as'shown in FIGS. 2, 3,4 and 5 by the air space 52. The cartridge shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is preferably fillednot beyond of its total interior volumetric capacity. Prior art Icartridgeswhen filled to within 80% of their total capacity could be positioned up to 5 degrees from the horizontal. The cartridge of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 may be positioned perfectly horizontal while'still containing 80% of its capacity in ink. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 the cartridge may be filled to of its capacity and be disposed in a perfectly horizontal position. This represents an improvement as a result because the ink need not be lifted as high in the embodiments of the invention in this application as with the prior art because the ink need not be lifted along the 5% incline of the prior art devices and with-the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 the cartridge may contain more ink.

' The eap 20 may be removably secured to the cartridge body by, for example, the use of a heat-softenable glue spread betweenthe meeting faces of the joint 22. It will be noted thatin both embodiments the Wick tube is secured to the cap, although it will be obvious that the same may be secured to the opposite end of the cartridgeor conceivably to the cartridge midway between its opposite ends if .itis used exclusively in a, horizontal position, or in any other linearity along the cylindrical wall'ocf the cartridge, so long as it is positioned such that it extends substantially tangentially away from the cartridge and opens into the cartridge at the surface or above the surface of the ink therein'when the cartridge is substantially filled with ink and at least the outer end of the tube or some other portion thereof is disposed above the ink level within.

the cartridge. In the'embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, which is the preferred embodiment, the point at which the tube opens into the cartridge is disposed above the ink level therein.

What is claimed is:

An inking device for mounting in a typewriter or like machine having a ribbon inking roller comprising: an ink cartridge, a wick tube on the cartridge opening thereinto at one end and projecting laterally from the cartridge,

21' wick in the tube having one end immersed in ink in the cartridge and the other end projecting beyond the outer end of the tube, said wick being wedge-shaped at its outer end toprovide a surface portion for tangentially engaging the ribbon inking roller, said surface portion being of wedge shape diverging from a point at the extreme end of the wick rearward along the wick toward the end of the tube whereby the band width of ink applied to the roller may be varied by shifting such surface portion tangentially relative to the surface of the roller to increase or decrease the area of contact between the wick and roller, and means (for supporting the wick for shiftable movement tangentially of the roller to vary the band width of ink applied to the roller.

the 

